EAGLES ABOVE DIEPPE  Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb, "XR-C", 71st "Eagle" squadron RAF, 19th August 1942, operation Jubilee,pilot S/Ldr. Chesley "Pete" Peterson oil on canvas board, 60x40 cm original painting in the personal collection Major General Chesley Gordon Peterson, DSC, DSO, DFC, Legion d'Honneur. Born on 6 August 1920 in Santaquin, Utah, he was one of the first volunteers with the newly formed No 71 'Eagle' Squadron and became its second American commander.  Flying 130 combat missions he destroyed nine enemy aircraft and also claimed seven probables and five damaged. On 19 August 1942, during 'Operation Jubilee', the ill fated landings at Dieppe all three 'Eagle' Squadrons fought together for the first and only time claiming ten confirmed victories.  Peterson led 71 Squadron on three of its four sorties that day damaging a Ju 88 bomber during the mornings air battles.  In the afternoon during an engagement with twenty Ju 88s as they tried to attack shipping Peterson shot a Ju 88 into the sea but not before its rear gunner had forced him to bale out into the sea.  Within a few minutes he was rescued by a British MTB boat which had earlier rescued an Canadian pilot.  During the voyage back to England the boat was attacked by a lone Fw 190 killing the Canadian pilot sat next to him. For his outstanding leadership skills displayed that day Peterson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the only Eagle to be presented with one.  Peterson survived the war, and died on 28 January 1990. He was buried with full military honours at Riverside National Cemetary, California. Selling information: Print edition size 60x40 cm (23,6´ x 15,7´), matting chalk museum paper, 300 GSM - edition OPEN  . . . price 10 EUR - edition AUTHOR (100 items,signed by the author . . . price 20 EUR Giclée reproductions - signed by the author, printed on the canvas - 60x40 cm ( 23,6´ x 15,7´ ) . . . price 60 EUR Another size of reproductions and their shipping costs on request Shipping costs: prints:    EU -  5 EUR, outside EU - 10 EUR, delivery in around 2-3 weeks reproductions (without the "blind" frame):    EU -  10 EUR, outside EU - till 20 EUR, delivery in around 2-3 weeks PAYMENT is supported by: PAYPAL, Western Union, Eurogiro, wireless bank transfer, money order check, cash

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